To get pearls, one must dive deep …

Tag Archives: Settling down in Shinar

Genesis 11:6 states “And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.” This verse is probably one of the greatest, if not the greatest, testament that anyone can give to the power of unity. Having hailed from the the beautiful country of India, wherein the motif of the entire nation is captured in the phrase, “Unity in Diversity”, I can certainly relate to the power of unity, and, here we have not just any man, but the Lord himself who is making this declaration, that the people are one, and with such oneness there is nothing that is restrained from them, and that they would be able to do anything, that they have imagined. What a great testament this is to the power of oneness.

To get this to hit home, imagine that you want to do something, and then be certain, that with everyone working together, without confusion, toward that thing, it is only a matter of time, before which it becomes a reality. This is what God is saying, man can do, when they are one and can communicate their imaginations clearly without confusion (one language). In subsequent articles, we will learn about the dangers of such oneness, which warranted the LORD God to intervene, and confound the language of man, but today, let’s ponder upon the power of oneness.

Points to ponder:
The greatest commandment is to love God with our all – i.e., to be intimate with him; to be one with him. The second greatest commandment is to love our fellow men and women (neighbors) as ourselves – i.e., be one in fellowship with our neighbors; with God’s disciples. With such oneness, we can do great things for God and bring glory to God our Father. I believe, this is why Jesus prayed for the oneness of his believers with him – the kind of oneness that he had with God the Father from the very beginning (John17:20-23). And when we are one with God, with us in Christ and God in Christ, we are made perfect and the world would come to know Christ (John 17:23). The Power of Oneness with God cannot be restrained – think about that. Do you want this power? If so, become one with God and his people. Love God with all, love man as yourself!

Prayer: Lord, let me become one with you, so much so, that when people look at me, they do not see me, but you!

Genesis 11:5 (KJV)6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

John 17:20-23 (KJV)20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Genesis 11:5 states “And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.” What is interesting to note is that the LORD descended from above, to see the city and the tower that was being built by the people who settled in the town of Babel, in the plains of Shinar. This informs us of a few hidden treasures that close scrutiny unearths. First, the LORD came down implies that the LORD is above us, not just metaphorically, but physically and spiritually. Second, the LORD came down to see what the people were building. This implies that God is interested in the affairs of man.

Points to ponder:
The LORD is interested in the affairs of our life. If God was to come down from above, what is it that he will see you and me building?

Prayer: Lord, when you come from above to see what I am doing, may I be building your kingdom and your house and not trying to make myself a name by building lofty and earthly things that may even reach the heavens.

Genesis 11:5 (KJV)5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

Genesis 11:2 states “And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.” Now, while this may seem like it was just the natural thing to do for the people of God, it was indeed extremely contrary to the command that God had given his people. God had commanded his people to be fruitful and multiply, and to replenish the earth (not settle down in one place), and subdue it (Genesis 1:28), but with the fall of Adam, the earth became exceedingly evil and every imagination of man’s mind was wicked (Genesis 6:5), thereby bringing about the judgment of God in the form of a flood, destroying all mankind, except Noah and his family. Now what is interesting to note is that, after the flood, the same command that was given to Adam and Eve, is now given to the Noah and his sons, which is to be fruitful and to multiply and to replenish the earth (Genesis 9:1), again not settle down in one place. So we see that settling down in one place (in the land of Shinar) was a direct contradiction to the command of God.

Points to ponder:What is it that keeps you from following the command of God? Let us not settle down in our sinful states but let us be fruitful, producing the fruit of the Spirit and let us multiply – replenishing God’s kingdom on earth. What’s your Shinar? Settle not there!

Prayer: Lord, help me to follow your commandments and not seek to settle down in places of my life, where I think it is level ground (a plain). Let my Shinar be in you, Lord, I pray.

Genesis 11:2 (KJV)2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

Genesis 9:1 (KJV)1 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply,and replenish the earth.